The Pittsburgh Pirates signed a player on Thursday with a recognizable last name—one that connects him to both a former major leaguer and a Hall of Famer, as he is the son of one and the nephew of the other.
The Pirates’ newest addition is Wilton Guerrero Jr., who signed with the organization on the first day of MLB’s international signing period for a reported $1.95 million, according to MLB.com. The 16-year-old shortstop is ranked as the No. 17 prospect in this year’s international class by MLB.com.
Guerrero Jr. comes from a strong baseball lineage. His father, Wilton Guerrero Sr., spent eight seasons in the majors with four different teams and now works in MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program at his academy in Nizao, Dominican Republic. MLB.com’s scouting report notes that Wilton Jr. shares many of his father’s traits, including a lean, projectable frame and a gritty style of play with advanced in-game instincts. As the nephew of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr., he has grown up immersed in the game and already shows characteristics at age 16 comparable to those of collegiate players in the United States.
The standout trait in Guerrero’s game is his speed. MLB.com notes that his biggest impact comes on the basepaths, where he has been timed as fast as 4.1 seconds from home to first and consistently looks to take extra bases, whether it’s first to third or second to home. That elite speed also translates defensively, enhancing his range at shortstop, where he pairs quick hands with strong instincts as the leader of the infield. While his arm strength is not overpowering, Guerrero’s overall profile fits the mold of the “best athlete on the field,” a type of player organizations highly value in both the draft and international market.
For a Pirates organization that typically doesn’t spend heavily in free agency, success hinges on making the most of the draft and international signings. Wilton Guerrero Jr. appears to be a promising investment who could pay off in a big way.
